Multiple tubing string production apparatus



March 28, 1961 w. w. HENsLEE, JR 2,976,933

MULTIPLE TUBING STRING PRODUCTION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 25, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 1 E; o In EI/Galan WLQO W HNSLEE, Je

R. J4 INVENTO M Mm S i /rroeA/E Ys.

March 28, 1961 w. w. HENSLEE, JR 2,976,933

MULTIPLE TUBING STRING PRODUCTION APPARATUS Filed Deo. 23, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

PVMDO WHEMSLEE, (le.

l/ro. 2.

apparatus disclosed in 1;

ite

MULTIPLE TUBING STRiNG'PRoDUCTIoN APPARATUS Waldo `W. Henslee, Jr.,Houston, Tex., assignor to lBaker l.Oil rlools, Inc., Los Angeles,Calif., a corporation of `California Filed Dee'zs, 1957, ser. No.704,649 f s claims. (ci. 16a-24s),

The present invention relates to ``subsurface well bore apparatus, andmore particularly to apparatus for establishing individual communicationbetween different forfrom three different'producing zones in a well borethrough three separate parallel strings of production tubing to the topof the well bore.

A further object of the invention is tovprovide producv tion apparatusfor establishing communication between a plurality'offormation zones in"a well boreand'three parallel tubular production strings disposed* inthe well bore, in which at least one of the tubularstrings is lowered inthe well bore and vplaced in proper assembled relation with the otherapparatus in the well bore after such other apparatus has been disposedin its appropriate ylocation inthe well bore.

An additional object of `the invention is ,to provide l productionapparatus for establishing communication between a plurality offormation zones in a well bore and three parallel tubular productionstrings disposed in the well bore, in Which'the third` string canbe runinthe well bore and placed in yproper relationto the other apparatus inthe Well bore after two other strings have been run simultaneously-inthe well bore.

This invention possesses` many othera'dvantages, and has other objectswhich-may be made more yclearly apparent from a consideration of a formin'which it may be embodied. This form'is shown inthe drawingsaccompanying and forming-part of the 'present -vspecication. It will nowbe described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but

it-is' to-be understood that such detaileddescription is -not to betaken "ina limiting sense, sincethejscope of the invention iis Ybestdefined by the appended claims. f

l,Referring to --the drawings: n v AFigures 1 and A1a "togetherconstitute a longitudinal rsectionfthrough well apparatus disposed inawell casing, partsbeingshown inside elevation, Fig. 1a constituting v alower'continuation-"ofFig. 1;

Fig 2 is anenlarged longitudinal section' through the Fig. 3 is across-section taken along the line 3--3 on Fig, 2; N l Y y fFig. 4 is aside elevation ofthe trackvor guideportio'n 'of the apparatus.

kInjthespeciiic formof 'apparatusjshownin the drawings, itisdesiredtojconduct well production from threeflpngitudinally i"'spaced4formation producing zones indi- AViidtlally"throughthreelst'ringsofktubingiltL '111, 12 tofthe Patent j zone can passpintoa well casing 13 through lower perforations 14, production from theVintermediate zone can vpass into the well casing through anintermediate set of perforations 1S, and-production from an upper Zonecan pass into the well casing through an upper set of casingperforations 16. The zones are separated by one another by suitablebarrier devices. Thus, a lower packer 17 of any suitable type isanchored in packed-odi condition Vin the well casing between the lowerVand 'intermediate sets of perforations 14, 1S, an intermediate packer18 is anchored in packed-olf condition in the 'well casing between theintermediate and upper sets of perforations 15', 16 whereas anupperzpacker` 19 is anchored in packedyoil condition inthe wellcasingfabove the upper setof perforations 16. TheseY packers are showndiagrammatically in the drawings, and may be of the specilic vtype shownin yUnited States Patent Nos. -2,189,701, and 2,630,865. The threeparallel strings of tubing 10, 11, 12 that are disposed in the wellcasing arerelated individuall to re- Vceive production from one of thezones.k Thus, the'rst string of tubing 10 is in communication with aninner tubing string 2t) which extends through all packers to a locationbelowthe lower packer 17. :Thiswinner tubing string has suitable sealingdevices or.. members (21 thereon adapted to seal against thewallof the`passage"22 through the lower packer. This passage y'22 has 'an smallerinside 'diameter than the passageV 423 through the intermediate passage'24 Vthrough the upperY packer '119.

,"Asecond string of vtubing V1-1 A is yadal'itedto 'receive productionpassing into the casing through fthe'intermediate/set of perforationsf15. Communicationis established .between the second tubular string"l1-andan intermediate ltubing string 25 which surroundstheinn'er tubingstring 20and Vis spaced 'therefrom to 'provide 'an vannular pas- "sage26 for the ilow 'f-fluid. This intermediate tubing string 25 hassuitable seal membersv 27 "thereon-'adapted to sealingly 'engage'thevwall "of the intermediate' packer 18.

VThe third -stringiof tubing '12 f'isfadapted to "reeeiw,

production passing intorthe Vcasing fthrough the upper set ofperforations 16. This third string of tubing is in communication with anupper tubular member or string 23 which surrounds the lintermediatetubing'string 25 and is-'in spaced relation therewith--to-p`rovide anannular passage 29 for the flow of'flu'id. The'upper tubing string 28has suitable packing 30 thereon to make sealing engagement with the wallofthe passage 24'through Vthe upper packer. The'lower'endl -of such-upp'er tubular string is adapted to rest upon"a- 'shoulder 32 in theupper packer k19 so as to appropriately locate theseal members 27, 21 ofthe intermediateand'lower tubing strings 25, 20Within'theirrespectiveintermediate-and lower Vpackers 18, 17. f y

v The first, second and third tubular strings 10, 11, 12,

y which extend lto the top of the well bore, are placed in 6`0appropriate communication with* the inner tubing string Ztl, thea'nnulusV 26, between they inner 'and vintermediate tubular strings20,25, and the annulus 29 between the intermediate and uppertubin'gstringsi25, 28 bymeans Y of a flow directingh'ead 33`which isconnectedtothe Y'the ylower threaded bore `34tor threadedly receiving'the upperend ofthe intermediate 'tubingstring 25,' andit also has `an upperthreaded bore 36 coaxial with the'other threaded bores forthreadedlyreceivingthe'uppr'hd of' Vto the top of the well bore.

To one side of the threaded box 37 for the first stringV of tubing 10,the head 33 is provided with a second threaded box 39 into which thelower end of the second tubular string 11 is threadedly received, thisthreaded box opening downwardly into a passage 40 that opens into theannular space 41 between the upper portion of the inner tubular string20 and an intermediate passage 42 in the head opening into theintermediate threaded bore 35, thus establishing communication betweenthe annular space 26 between the inner and intermediate tubing strings20, 25 and the second tubing string 11.

The thirdtubing string 12 is adapted to be disposed Within atubularreceptacle 43, the lower end of which is threaded within a thirdthreaded box 44 in the upper portion of the head 33, this threaded boxcommunicating with a passage 45 extending downwardly through the headand opening into a lower passage 46 communicating with the lowerthreaded bore 34, so that fluid from the annulus 29 between theintermediate and upper tubing strings 25, 28 can ow through the headpassages 46, 45 into the tubing receptacle 43, and thence into the thirdstring of tubing 12. For convenience of manufacture, part of the passage45 through the head 33 may be milled therein through the side wall ofthe head, the side of the passage being closed by a suitable plate 47welded to the head and, in eect, constituting a part thereof. To preventleakage of fluid between the third tubular string 12 and the receptacleI43, suitable side seals 48 are provided on the lower portion of thethird string 12 for sealingly engaging the wall of the receptacle.

From the description which has been given above, it will be evident thatproduction from the lower formation zone can flow through the lower setof perforations 14 into the casing 13, then proceeding upwardly throughthe inner tubular string 20 and the rst flow passage 38 in the head 33into the first tubular string 10, to be conducted Production from theintermediate zone can pass through the intermediate casing perforations15 to the interior of the casing, then flowing upwardly through theannulus 26 between the inner and intermediate tubing strings 20, 25 intothe intermediateV production flow passage 42 in the head 33, thencethrough the second passage 40 in the head and Vinto the second string oftubing 11, to be conducted thereby to the top of the'well bore.Production from the upper producing zone can pass through the uppercasing perforations 16 into the well casing, flowing through the annulus29 between the intermediate string 25 and upper packer 19, as well asthis same annulus between the intermediate string and the upper tubingstring 28 into the third head passage 46, 45, from where the productionis carried through the tubing receptacle 43 into the third string oftubing v12 for conveyance to the top of the well bore. Since the wellpackers 17, 18, 19 isolate the producing zones from one another, thecasing being cemented betweenv the zones, and `in view of the sealingrelationship between the packing elements 21,27, 30 on the inner,intermediate and upper tubing strings 20, 25, 28 with the lower,intermediate and upper packers, the well production is conductedseparately from each producing zone through its own individual tubularstring to the top of the well bore. Y

The apparatus Iillustrated -is run in `the well Vcasing in apredetermined sequence. Thus, the lower packer 17 is run` in the wellcasing 13 and yanchoredin packed-off condition therewithin between thelower and intermediate sets of perforations 14, 15. The intermediatepacker 1,8-

is then run in the well casing and anchored in packed-olf conditiontherewithin between the intermediate and upper 2,976,9ss f f e sets ofperforations 15, 16. The upper packer 19 is then run in the well casingand anchored in packed-oil condition therewithin above the upper set ofperforations 16. The locations of these packers are known, so thatappropriate lengths of inner, intermediate and upper tubing strings 20,25, 2S can be employed to secure a proper sealing relation between suchtubing strings and the lower, intermediate and upper packers.

The upper end of the inner tubing string 20 is threaded within the upperthreaded bore 36 of the flow directing head 33, this inner tubing stringhaving its sealing members 21 mounted thereon. The intermediate tubingstring 25, `disposed over the inner tubing string 20, is threaded intothe intermediate threaded bore 35 in the ow directing head 33, thisintermediate tubing string also having its seal members 27 mountedthereon. The upper tubing string 28, which is disposed around theintermediate tubing string 25, is threaded into the lower threaded bore34 in the head. 'Ihe rst tubular string 10 is then threaded into itscompanion bore 37 in the upper portion of the head, and the lower end ofthe second tubular string 11 is also threadedly `secured within itscompanion threaded bore 39. The tubing receptacle is threaded in itsbore 44. rDhis combination of apparatus with the rst and second tubingstrings 10, 11 threaded to the head 33 is then lowered in the wellcasing by means of additional stands or sections of rst tubular stringand second tubular string, which are coupled to the companion sectionstherebelow until the inner, intermediate and upper tubing strings 20,25, 28 are appropriately disposed within their respective well packers17, 18, 19, as determined by engagement of the upper tubing string 28with the shoulder 32 in the upper packer.

At this time, the seal members 21 of the inner tubing String 2@ aresealingly engaging the wall of the lower packer passage 22; the sealmembers 27 of the intermediate tubing string 25 are sealingly engagingthe wall of the intermediate packer passage Z3; and the seal member 30on the upper tubing string 28 is sealingly engaging the wall of theupper packer passage 24. The first tubular string 10 and the secondtubular string 11 are thus appropriately related to the inner vtubingstring Ztl and the annulus 26 between the inner and intermediate tubingstring 20, 25, so that production from the lower zone can be conveyedinto the iirst string 10 and production from the intermediate productionzone into the second tubing string 1'1. At this time, however, the thirdtubing string 12 has not been disposed in the well bore, although itsreceptacle 43 has been threaded into the threaded box 44 in the upperportion of the head, 33 preparatory to lowering of the apparatus in thewell casing. After the apparatus has been ylowered in the well casingand appropriately related to the packers therewithin, the third stringof tubing 12 can be lowered in the well casing and is to be positivelyguided or steered into its receptacle 43. The structure foraccomplishing this purpose will now be described.

By referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the threaded boxes 37, 39,44 in the upper portion of the flow directing head 33 are not in linewith one another, but are arranged in triangular fashion and ratherclosely clustered with respect to one another.r The threaded box 37 forthe rst tubular string 10 may be disposed near the axis or center of theilow directing head, whereas the threaded .t 33, such space' existingfrom the threaded box 39v of the second tubular string 11 in acounter-.clockwise direc- `spacefexists in a clockwise direction'betweenthe threaded box 39 for the second tubularstring 11 and the threaded4boxflffor the receptacle 43j. Track or. guiding devices l5t), 51aredisposed in these annularspaces so as to `'guide the third tubularstring 12into`the receptacle 43 upon its lowering into the well casing13.

As shown, one arcuate track member 50 extends bedtween the'threaded'box.39"for the second tubular string 11 and past the threaded box 37 forthe first tubular string A10 to the receptacle 43, its lower portionbeing suitably secured to the head 33 by welding. This track 'sectionA50* extends upwardly'to a height Iabove the upper end of the tubingreceptacle 43, and is disposed laterally between the threaded box 37 forthe first tubular string 10 and the periphery of the head 33. Its upperend 52 is tapered in a downward direction from a position jadjacent thesecond tubular string 11 to a position adjacent Ythe tubing receptacle43 or the location of the third tubular string 12, and, in addition,this .upper tapered Yend 52 of the track or guide is also beveled in aninward direction, as is shown most clearly in Fig. 4. Similarly, therelatively short track or guide section 51 -is disposed between thethreaded box 39 for the vsecond tubular string 11 and the threaded boxv44 for the receptacle 43- adjacent the periphery of the head 33. Itslower end is secured, as by welding, to the upper end of the head 33,and its upper end 53 extendsv above the upper end of the tubingreceptacle 43. The upper endy 53 kof this guide tapers in a downwarddirection from the second string of tubing 11 to-the location of thereceptacle 43 or third tubular string 12', the lowerrnost end.54 of thetaper, as well as the lowermost end 55 of the taper on the other trackor `guide section 50 being disposed above the upper end of the tubingreceptacle 43., Here again, Vthe upper'end53 of the short track or guidesection is also beveled inan inward direction..

'111e -parts are so proportioned and located that the thirdtubularstring 12, when it is lowered down the. well casing 13, will engage theupper end 52 of the larger 1 track section 5G or the upper end 53 of thesmaller track section 51. The distance between the first tubular string10 and the large track section 50is less than the diameter of the thirdtubular string 12, so that the third tubular string can never passbetween the large track section 50 and the first tubular string 10, butmust come to rest `bn the upper end 52 of the larger track section.Similarly, Qthe ldistance between the larger track Section() Vand theAiner'wall 'of `the casing 13 issubstantially less than the diameter'ofthe lthird tubular string 12., so that it canshort track section 5-1,which, as shown, isdisposed adjacent the periphery of the Vhead 33.Accordingly, the third tubular string 12 can never move betweenthe out-Aaide of `the 'short section Stand vthe wall ofgthe 'well lcasing 13. Ifit is'jdisposed above and in line with the short section 51, the thirdstring will engage theV upper end 53 of that section and will beguided'thereby toward the receptacle 43, the upper end 56 of which isalso beveled in an inward direction.

The apparatus is run in the well casing in the manner described above onthe first and second stringseof tubing 1t), 11, the receptacle 43 havingbeen previously threaded into its companion threaded box 44 in the fiowdirecting head 33. After the apparatus has been appropriately related tothe well packers, as shown in Figs. 1 and la, with the first and secondtubing. strings 10, 11 extending to the top of the Well bore, the thirdtubing string 12 is lowered in the well casing 13. This third tubingstring, when lowered to the guide membersl 50, 51,'will engage eitherthe upper end 53 'of the small track section 51 or the upper end 52 ofthe large track section 50. Regardless of which one ofy these tracksections it engages, it will be'guided therebytoward .the

"mostpoint into thethird receptacle 43.

" section curvedarcuately with respect tothe axis ofthe y4'tubingi'eceptacle 43. `If it'engages the large tracksection 50, itwill be vguided down along its upper slope until it reaches itslowermost point 5S, then dropping off the lowermost point into'thetubing receptacle 43 and "coming to rest against the shoulder 43a inthelatter. If

the lower end of the. third tubing string llenga'ges the upper jend5310i the short section 51,'it will bev guided toward its lowermostpoint 54,`dropping off such lower- Both track sections are beveled in aninward direction so as to direct the tubing string k12 inwardly, and toits appropria'te assembled relation within the third string receptacleWhen received within the third string receptacle, the seals-$8 on thelower portion of thel third string 12 will sealingly engage the wall ofthe receptacle.

All three strings of tubing 10, 11, 12j are now appropriately connectedtothe ow directing head 13 and will conduct'kiluid from the lower,intermediate and upper zones of 4the well bore through individual pathsto the top of the well bore.

The inventor claims:

l. ln subsurface well production 'apparatus adapted for use with first,second and third tubular strings extending to the top of a well bore: ahead adapted to be disposed in the well bore and having first, secondand third passages therein; said head having first means in Asaid rstpassage for receiving the first tubular string which extends to the topof the well bore; said head ceiving Vthe second tubular string whichextends to the top of the well bore;'said head having a tubularreceptacle in said third passage for receiving the third tubular stringwhich extends to the top of the well bore; a first track head andsecured to saidhead and extending 'arcuately in one direction from saidsecond passage, past vsaid first passage to said receptacle; said firsttrack section hava location'adjacent said second passage to a locationadjacent "said receptacle; a track section curved arcuately withvrespect to the axis of the head and secured to saidfot'pass-betweentheseparts. The same is-true ofthe head and extendingarcuately'in the opprosite direction from said second passage to saidreceptacle, said second of the inclined upper ends of said tracksectionsrterminating above the upper end of said,receptacle,'whereby engagementof 'either of said inc-lined upper ends by the vthird ytubular stringwill direct the third tubular string intosaid` receptacle. v

2. VIn subsurface well production apparatus adapted for "use lwithfirst, second and thirdtubular strings extend- "ing to thejtop of a wellbore; a head adapted to be disposed in the well bore and having iirst,second and third Apassages therein, said head having first means linsaid rfirst passage lfor receivingthe first tubular string ywhichextends to the top of the well bore; said head having second means insaid second passage for receiving the second tubular string whichextends to the top of the well bore; said head having third means insaid third passage for receiving the third tubular string which extendsto the top of the well bore; guide means on said head adapted tobeengaged by the third string when it is lowered in the vwell bore todirect the third string intosaid third means; said head having a firstthreaded bore communicating with said first passage and adapted to.receive an inner v tubular string depending fromthe head; said head hav-3. In subsurface well production apparatus adapted for.

7 use with first, second and third tubular strings extending to the topof a well bore; a head adapted to be dis- .posed in the well bore andhaving first, second and third for receiving the third tubular stringwhich extends to the top of the well bore; and guide means on said headhaving Aan upper guide portion tapering downwardly toward said thirdpassage from one of said other passages to said third passage, saidguide portion being engageable by the third string to direct the thirdstring from said one of said other passages into said third means; saidhead having a lirst threaded bore communicating with said first passageand adapted to receive an inner tubular string depending from the head;said head having an intermediate threaded bore communicating with saidsecond passage and adapted to threadedly receive an intermediate tubingstring surrounding the inner tubing string; said head having a threadedbore communicating with said third passage and adapted to receive anouter tubing string surrounding the intermediate tubing string.

4. in subsurface well production apparatus adapted for use with first,second and third tubular strings extending tothe top of a well bore: ahead adapted to be disposed inthe well bore and having first, second andthird passages therein; said head having first means in said firstpassage for receiving the rst tubular string which extends to the top ofthe well bore; said head having second means in said second passage forreceiving the second tubular string which extends to the top of the Wellbore;

:said head having third means in said third passage for t receiving thethird tubular string which extends to the top of Ithe well bore; a iirsttrack section curved arcuately with respect to the axis of the head andsecured to said head and extending arcuately in one directionfrom saidsecond passage, past said rst passage to said third passage, said firsttrack section having an upper end ini .clined in a downward directionfrom a location adjacent Vsaid second passage to a location adjacentsaid third passage; a second track section curved arcuately with respectto the axis of the head and secured to said head Y and extendingarcuately in the opposite direction from said means; said head having arst threaded bore communicating with said first passage and adapted toreceive an inner tubular string depending from the head; said headhaving an intermediate threaded bore communicating with said secondpassage` and adapted to threadedly receive an 8 intermediatetubingstring surrounding the inner tubing string; Asaid head having a threadedbore communicating with said third passage and adapted to receive anouter tubing string surrounding the intermediate tubing string.

Y 5. In subsurface well production apparatus adapted for use with first,second and third tubular strings extending to the top of a well bore; ahead adapted to be disposed in the well bore and having first, secondVand third passages therein; said head having first means in said iirstpassage for receiving the iirst tubular string which extends to the topof the well bore; said head having second means in said second passagefor receiving the second tubular string which extends to the top of thewell bore; .said head having a tubular receptacle in said third passagefor receiving the third tubular string which extends to the top of thewell bore; a first track section curved arcuately with respect to theaxis of the head and secured to said head and extending arcuately in onedirection from said second passage, past said l first passage to saidreceptacle; said first track section having an upper end inclined in adownward direction from a location adjacent said second passage to alocation adjacent said receptacle; a second track section curvedarcuately with respect to the axis of the head and secured to said headand extending arcuately in the opposite direction from said secondpassage to said receptacle, said second track section having an upperend inclined in a downward direction from a location adjacent saidsecond passage to `a location adjacent said receptacle; the lower endsof the inclined upper ends of said track sections terminating above theupper end of said receptacle, whereby engagement of either of saidinclined upper ends bythe third tubular string will direct said thirdtubular string intov said receptacle; said head having a rst threadedbore communicating with said iirst passage Vand Y adapted to receive aninner tubular string depending from the head; said head having anintermediate threaded bore vcommunicating with said second passage andadapted-to threadedly receive an intermediate tubing string surroundingthe inner tubing string; said head having a threaded bore communicatingwith said third passage and adapted to receive an outer tubing stringsurrounding the intermediate tubing string.

1,065,308 France Jan.,6, 19,54

